JESSICA'S  First  Prayer 


BY 

HESBA    STRETTON 


NEW  YORK:  46   East   mth   Street 

THOMAS   Y.    CROWELL   &   CO. 

BOSTON:   100  Purchase  Striet 

5K 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  the  Sunday  Magazine  there  is  an  interesting  ac- 
count of  Hesba  Stretton,  whose  real  name,  it  seems,  is 
Miss  Sarah  Smith.  IMiss  Hesba  Stretton  lives  with  hef 
sister  at  Ham  Common.  The  writer  of  the  article,  in 
describing  this  popular  authoress  and  her  works,  says  : 
"  Her  ideal  Church  is  '  all  people  that  on  earth  do  dwell,' 
with  the  four  Gospels  for  their  theology,  Jesus  of  Naz- 
areth for  their  one  Master,  and  the  pleasures  of  brother- 
hood as  their  holy  communion.  Jessica's  first  praj^er  is 
her  idea  of  prayer,  the  personal  childlike  speaking  of 
our  joys  and  wants  to  a  living,  loving  Father. 

*'Miss  Hesba  Stretton's  entrance  into  literary  life 
does  not  seem  to  have  been  premeditated,  but  was 
brought  about  by,  apparently,  her  sending  a  ghost  story 
to  the  late  Charles  Dickens.  He  not  only  accepted  the 
story  of  *  The  Lucky  Leg '  and  published  it  within  a  fort- 
night, but  also  asked  for  more  contributions  from  the 
same  pen. 

"  This  was  Miss  Stretton's  start,  and  one  which  does 
not  come  to  many  writers.  Tlie  point  of  unity  with  Mr. 
Dickens  was  sympathy  with  helplessness,  and  especially 
the  helplessness  of  children.  The  sight  of  it  seemed  to 
exercise  a  spell  over  them,  and  what  they  themselves 
felt  they  were  happily  enabled  to  make  others  feel  by 
the  vivid  power  of  their  descriptions.  From  the  time 
of  their  first  acqiiaintance  until  Charles  Dickens's  death 

3 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

Miss  Stretton  contributed  regularly  to  All  the  Year 
Round,  and  frequently  to  the  Christmas  numbers  pub- 
lished by  Charles  Dickens.  Subsequently  she  wrote 
those  stories  which  bear  names  so  widely  known.  Of 
these  '  Jessica's  First  Prayer '  has,  perhaps,  had  the 
largest  circulation  in  England,  America,  and  Germany, 
amounting  to  something  like  three-quarters  of  a  million 
in  England  alone.  Among  her  foreign  readers  and  ad- 
mirers Miss  Stretton  counts  a  great  variety,  including 
emperors,  theologians,  and  peasants. 

"The  Emperor  of  Russia,  Alexander  II.,  published  a 
ukase  that  copies  of  '  Jessica's  Eirst  Prayer '  should  be 
placed  in  all  the  schools  of  Eussia.  His  successor  has 
thought  fit  to  revoke  this  order,  and,  with  peculiar  sever- 
ity for  such  an  unoffending  member,  has  condemned  all 
remaining  copies  found  in  his  dominions  to  be  burnt  '  by 
the  hangman,'  if  there  is  such  an  official  in  Russia. 

*'  However, '  Jessica's  First  Prayer  '  has  found  its  way 
into  almost  every  country  in  the  world,  and  has  been 
translated  into  Arabic,  Cingalese,  Japanese,  Bulgarian, 
Czech,  Russian,  Italian,  Spanish,  Portuguese,  German, 
and  French."  —  Revleiv  of  Reviews. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.                                    PACE. 
The  Coffee-stall  and  its  Kkkper 7 

CHAPTER   II. 
Jessica's  Temptatiox 12 

CHAPTEll  III. 
An  Old  Fkiend  in  a  New  Dress 16 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Peeps  into  Faikyland 21 

CHAPTER  V. 
A  New  World  opens 25 

CHAPTER  YI. 
The  First  Prayer 28 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Hard  Questions 30 

CHAPTER   VIII. 
An  Unexpected  Visitor 33 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Jessica's  First  Prayer  answered 37 

CHAPTER   X. 

The  Shadow  of  Death 43 

5 


JESSICA'S  FIRST   PRAYER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    COFFEE-STALL    AND    ITS    KEEPER. 

In  a  screened  and  secluded  corner  of  one  of  the  many 
railway  bridges  which  span  the  streets  of  London  there 
could  be  seen,  a  few  jeiivs  ago,  from  live  o'clock  every 
morning  until  half-past  eight,  a  tidily  set-out  coffee-stall, 
consisting  of  a  trestle  and  board,  upon  which  stood  two 
large  tin  cans,  with  a  small  fire  of  charcoal  burning 
under  each,  so  as  to  keep  the  coffee  boiling  during  the 
early  hours  of  the  morning  when  the  workpeople  were 
thronging  into  the  city  on  their  way  to  their  work. 

The  coffee-stall  was  a  favorite  one ;  for,  besides  being 
under  shelter,  which  was  of  great  consequence  upon  rainy 
mornings,  it  was  also  in  so  private  a  niche  that  the  cus- 
tomers taking  their  out-of-door  breakfast  were  not  too 
much  exposed  to  notice ;  and,  moreover,  the  coffee-stall 
keeper  was  a  quiet  man,  who  cared  only  to  serve  the 
busy  workmen,  without  hindering  them  by  any  gossip. 
He  was  a  tall,  spare,  elderly  man,  with  a  singularly  sol- 
emn face,  and  a  manner  which  was  grave  and  secret. 
Nobody  knew  either  his  name  or  dwelling-place ;  unless 
it  might  be  the  policeman  who  strode  past  the  colfee- 
stall  every  half-hour,  and  nodded  familiarly  to  the  solemn 
man  behind  it. 

7 


8  JESSICA'S  FIB  ST  PRAYER. 

There  were  very  few  who  cared  to  make  any  inquiries 
about  him ;  but  those  who  did  could  only  discover  that 
he  kept  the  furniture  of  his  stall  at  a  neighboring  coffee- 
house, whither  he  wheeled  his  trestle  and  board  and 
crockery  every  day,  not  later  than  half-past  eight  in  the 
morning ;  after  which  he  was  wont  to  glide  away  with  a 
soft  footstep  and  a  mysterious  and  fugitive  air,  with 
many  backward  and  sidelong  glances,  as  if  he  dreaded 
observation,  until  he  was  lost  among  the  crowds  which 
thronged  the  streets.  No  one  had  ever  had  the  persever- 
ing curiosity  to  track  him  all  the  way  to  his  house,  or  to 
find  out  his  other  means  of  gaining  a  livelihood  ;  but  in 
general  his  stall  was  surrounded  by  customers  whom  he 
served  with  silent  seriousness,  and  who  did  not  grudge 
to  pay  him  his  charge  for  the  refreshing  coffee  he  sup- 
plied to  them. 

For  several  years  the  croAvd  of  workpeople  had  paused 
by  the  coffee-stall  under  the  railway  arch,  when  one 
morning,  in  a  partial  lull  of  his  business,  the  owner 
became  suddenly  aware  of  a  pair  of  very  bright  dark 
eyes  being  fastened  upon  him  and  the  slices  of  bread  and 
butter  on  his  board,  with  a  gaze  as  hungry  as  that  of  a 
mouse  which  has  been  driven  by  famine  into  a  trap.  A 
thin  and  meagre  face  belonged  to  the  eyes,  which  was 
half  liidden  by  a  mass  of  matted  hair  hanging  over  the 
forehead  and  down  the  neck,  the  only  covering  which 
the  head  or  neck  had ;  for  a  tattered  frock,  scarcely 
fastened  together  with  broken  strings,  was  slipping  down 
over  the  shivering  shoulders  of  the  little  girl. 

Stooping  down  to  a  basket  behind  his  stall,  he  caught 
sight  of  two  bare  little  feet  curling  up  from  the  damp 
pavement,  as  the  child  lifted  up  first  one  and  then  the 
other,  and  laid  them  one  over  another  to  gain  a  momen- 
tary feeling  of  warmth.     Whoever  the  wretched  child 


THE  COFFEE-STALL  AND  ITS  KEEPER.  9 

was,  she  did  not  speak ;  only  at  every  steaming  cupful 
whicli  he  poured  out  of  liis  can,  her  dark  eyes  gleamed 
hungrily,  and  he  could  hear  her  smack  her  thin  lips,  as 
if  in  fancy  she  was  tasting  the  warm  and  fragrant 
coffee. 

"  Oh,  come  now  !  "  he  said  at  last,  when  only  one  boy 
was  left  taking  his  breakfast  leisurely,  and  he  leaned 
over  his  stall  to  speak  in  a  low  and  qiiiet  tone ;  "  why 
don't  you  go  away,  little  girl  ?  Come,  come,  you're 
staying  too  long,  you  know." 

"  I'm  just  going,  sir,"  she  answered,  shrugging  her 
small  shoulders  to  draw  her  frock  up  higher  about  her 
neck ;  "  only  it's  raining  cats  and  dogs  outside ;  and 
mother's  been  away  all  night,  and  she  took  the  ke}-  with 
her,  and  it's  so  nice  to  smell  the  coffee ;  and  the  police 
has  left  oif  worriting  me  while  I've  been  here.  He 
thinks  I'm  a  customer  taking  my  breakfast."  And  the 
child  laughed  a  shrill  little  laugh  of  mockery  at  herself 
and  the  policeman. 

"  You've  had  no  breakfast,  I  suppose,"  said  the  coffee- 
stall  keeper,  in  the  same  low  and  confidential  voice,  and 
leaning  over  the  stall  till  his  face  nearly  touched  the 
thin,  sharp  features  of  the  child. 

"  No,"  she  replied  coolly ;  "  and  I  shall  want  my  din- 
ner dreadful  bad  afore  I  get  it,  I  know.  You  don't  often 
feel  dreadful  hungry,  do  you,  sir  ?  I'm  not  griped  yet, 
you  know ;  but  afore  I  taste  my  dinner  it'll  be  pretty 
bad,  I  tell  you.     Ah,  very  bad  indeed  ! " 

She  turned  away  with  a  knowing  nod,  as  much  as  to 
say  she  had  one  experience  in  life  to  which  he  was  quite 
a  stranger ;  but  before  she  had  gone  half  a  dozen  steps, 
she  heard  the  quiet  voice  calling  to  her  in  rather  louder 
tones,  and  in  an  instant  she  was  back  at  the  stall. 

"  Slip  in  here,"  said  the  owner,  in  a  cautious  whisper ; 


10  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRAYER. 

"  here's  a  little  coffee  left,  and  a  few  crusts.  There,  you 
must  never  come  again,  you  know.  I  never  give  to  beg- 
gars ;  and  if  you'd  begged,  I'd  have  called  the  police. 
There,  put  your  poor  feet  towards  the  fire.  Now,  aren't 
you  comfortable  ?  " 

The  child  looked  up  with  a  face  of  intense  satisfaction. 
She  was  seated  upon  an  empty  basket,  with  her  feet 
near  the  pan  of  charcoal,  and  a  cup  of  steaming  coffee  on 
her  lap ;  but  her  mouth  was  too  full  for  her  to  reply, 
except  by  a  very  deep  nod,  which  expressed  unbounded 
delight.  The  man  was  busy  for  a  while,  packing  up  his 
crockery  ;  but  every  now  and  then  he  stopped  to  look 
down  upon  her,  and  to  shake  his  head  gravely. 

"  What's  your  name  ?  "  he  asked  at  length ;  "  but 
there,  never  mind!  I  don't  care  what  it  is.  What's 
your  name  to  do  with  me,  I  wonder  ?  " 

"It's  Jessica,"  said  the  girl;  ''but  mother  and  every- 
body call  me  Jess.  You'd  be  tired  of  being  called  Jess, 
if  you  was  me.  It's  Jess  here,  and  Jess  there  ;  and 
everybody  wanting  me  to  go  errands.  And  they  think 
nothing  of  giving  me  smacks  and  kicks  and  pinches. 
Look  here ! " 

Whether  her  arms  were  black  and  blue  from  the  cold, 
or  from  ill-usage,  he  could  not  tell;  but  he  shook  his 
head  again  seriously,  and  the  child  felt  encouraged  to 
go  on. 

"  I  wish  I  could  stay  here  for  ever  and  ever,  just  as  I 
am ! "  she  cried.  "  But  you're  going  away  now ;  and 
I'm  never  to  come  again,  or  you'll  set  the  police  on  me  ! " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  coffee-stall  keeper  very  softly,  and 
looking  round  to  see  if  there  were  any  other  ragged  chil- 
dren within  sight ;  "  if  you'll  promise  not  to  come  again 
for  a  whole  week,  and  not  to  tell  anybody  else,  you  may 
come  once  more.  I'll  give  you  one  other  treat.  But  you 
must  be  off  now." 


THE  COFFEE-STALL  AND  ITS  KEEPER.         11 

"  I'm  off,  sir,"  she  said  sharply ;  "  but  if  you've  an 
errand  I  could  go  on,  I'd  do  it  all  right,  I  would.  Let 
me  carry  some  of  your  things." 

"  No,  no,"  cried  the  man  ;  ''  you  run  away,  like  a  good 
girl;  and  mind!  I'm  not  to  see  you  again  for  a  whole 
week." 

"  All  right ! "  answered  Jess,  setting  off  down  the 
rainy  street  at  a  quick  run,  as  if  to  show  her  willing 
agreement  to  the  bargain ;  while  the  coffee-stall  keeper, 
with  many  a  cautious  glance  around  him,  removed  his 
stock-in-trade  to  the  coffee-house  near  at  hand,  and  was 
seen  no  more  for  the  rest  of  the  day  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  railway  bridge. 


12  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRAYEE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Jessica's   temptation. 

Jessica  kept  her  part  of  the  bargain  faithfully ;  and 
though  the  solemn  and  silent  man  under  the  dark  shadow 
of  the  bridge  looked  out  for  her  every  morning  as  he 
served  his  customers,  he  caught  no  glimpse  of  her  wan 
face  and  thin  little  frame.  But  when  the  appointed 
time  was  finished,  she  presented  herself  at  the  stall,  with 
her  hungry  eyes  fastened  again  upon  the  piles  of  buns 
and  bread  and  butter,  which  were  fast  disappearing 
before  the  demands  of  the  buyers.  The  business  was  at 
its  height,  and  the  famished  child  stood  quietly  on  one 
side  watching  for  the  throng  to  melt  away.  But  as  soon 
as  the  nearest  church  clock  had  chimed  eight,  she  drew 
a  little  nearer  to  the  stall,  and  at  a  signal  from  its  owner 
she  slipped  between  the  trestles  of  his  stand,  and  took 
up  her  former  position  on  the  empty  basket.  To  his 
eyes  she  seemed  even  a  little  thinner,  and  certainly  more 
ragged,  than  before ;  and  he  laid  a  whole  bun,  a  stale  one 
which  was  left  from  yesterday's  stock,  upon  her  lap,  as 
she  lifted  the  cup  of  coffee  to  her  lips  with  both  her 
benumbed  hands. 

"  What's  your  name  ?  "  she  asked,  looking  up  to  him 
with  her  keen  eyes. 

"  Why  ?  "  he  answered  hesitatingly,  as  if  he  was  re- 
luctant to  tell  so  much  of  himself  ;  "  my  christened  name 
is  Daniel." 

"  And  where  do  you  live,  Mr.  Dan'el  ?  "  she  inquired. 


JESSICA'S   TEMPTATION.  13 

"  Oh,  come  now  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  if  you're  going  to 
be  impudent,  you'd  better  march  off.  What  business  is 
it  of  yours  where  I  live  ?  I  don't  want  to  know  where 
you  live,  I  can  tell  you." 

"  I  didn't  mean  no  offence,"  said  Jess  humbly ;  •'  only 
I  thought  I'd  like  to  know  where  a  good  man  like  you 
lived.     You're  a  very  good  man,  aren't  you,  Mr.  Dan'el  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  he  answered  uneasily ;  "  I'm  afraid 
I'm  not." 

"  Oh,  but  you  are,  you  know,"  continued  Jess.  "  You 
make  good  coffee  ;  prime !  And  buns  too  !  And  I've 
been  watching  you  hundreds  of  times  afore  you  saw  me, 
and  the  police  leaves  you  alone,  and  never  tells  you  to 
move  on.     Oh,  yes !  you  must  be  a  very  good  man." 

Daniel  sighed,  and  fidgeted  about  his  crockery  with  a 
grave  and  occupied  air,  as  if  he  were  pondering  over  the 
child's  notion  of  goodness.  He  made  good  coffee,  and 
the  police  let  him  alone  !  It  was  quite  true ;  yet  still,  as 
he  counted  up  the  store  of  pence  which  he  had  accumu- 
lated in  his  strong  canvas  bag,  he  sighed  again  still  more 
heavily.  He  purposely  let  one  of  his  pennies  fall  upon 
the  muddy  pavement,  and  went  on  counting  the  rest 
busily,  while  he  furtively  watched  the  little  girl  sitting 
at  his  feet. 

Without  a  shade  of  change  upon  her  small  face,  she 
covered  the  penny  with  her  foot,  and  drew  it  in  carefully 
towards  her,  while  she  continued  to  chatter  fluently  to 
him.  Eor  a  moment  a  feeling  of  pain  shot  a  pang  through 
Daniel's  heart ;  and  then  he  congratulated  himself  on 
having  entrapped  the  young  thief.  It  Avas  time  to  be 
leaving  now;  but  before  he  went  he  would  make  her 
move  her  bare  foot,  and  disclose  the  penny  concealed 
beneath  it,  and  then  he  would  warn  her  never  to  ven- 
♦^ure  near  his  stall  again.     This  was  her  gratitude,  he 


14  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PEA  YE R. 

thought;  he  had  given  her  two  breakfasts  and  more 
kindness  than  he  had  shown  to  any  fellow-creature  for 
many  a  long  year ;  and,  at  the  first  chance,  the  young 
jade  turned  upon  him,  and  robbed  him  ! 

He  was  brooding  over  it  painfully  in  his  mind,  when 
Jessica's  uplifted  face  changed  suddenly,  and  a  dark 
flush  crept  over  her  pale  cheeks,  and  the  tears  started  to 
her  eyes.  She  stooped  down,  and  picking  up  the  coin 
from  amongst  the  mud,  she  rubbed  it  bright  and  clean 
upon  her  rags,  and  laid  it  upon  the  stall  close  to  his 
hand,  but  without  speaking  a  word.  Daniel  looked  down 
upon  her  solemnly  and  searchingly. 

'' What's  this  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Please,  Mr.  Dan'el,"  she  answered,  "  it  dropped,  and 
you  didn't  hear  it." 

"  Jess,"  he  said  sternly,  "tell  me  all  about  it." 

"  Oh,  please,"  she  sobbed,  "  I  never  had  a  penny  of 
my  very  own  but  once ;  and  it  rolled  close  to  my  foot ; 
and  you  didn't  see  it ;  and  I  hid  it  up  sharp ;  and  then 
I  thought  how  kind  you'd  been,  and  how  good  the  coffee 
and  buns  are,  and  how  you  let  me  warm  luyself  at  your 
fire ;  and  please,  I  couldn't  keep  the  penny  any  longer. 
You'll  never  let  me  come  again,  I  guess." 

Daniel  turned  away  for  a  minute,  busying  himself  with 
putting  his  cups  and  saucers  into  the  basket,  while  Jes- 
sica stood  by  trembling,  with  the  large  tears  rolling 
slowly  down  her  cheeks.  The  snug,  dark  corner,  with 
its  Avarm  fire  of  charcoal  and  its  fragrant  smell  of  coffee, 
had  been  a  paradise  to  her  for  these  two  brief  spans  of 
time ;  but  she  had  been  guilty  of  the  sin  which  would 
drive  her  from  it.  All  beyond  the  railway  arch  the 
streets  stretched  away,  cold  and  dreary,  with  no  friendly 
faces  to  meet  hers,  and  no  warm  cups  of  coffee  to  refrosli 
her ;  yet  she  was  only  lingering  sorroAvfully  to  hear  the 


JESSICA'S   TEMPTATION.  15 

words  spoken  •which  should  lorbid  her  to  return  to  this 
pleasant  spot.  jSIr.  Daniel  turned  round  at  last,  and  met 
her  tearful  gaze  with  a  look  of  strange  emotion  upon  his 
own  solemn  face. 

"  Jess,"  he  said,  "  I  could  never  have  done  it  myself. 
But  you  may  come  here  every  Wednesday  morning,  as 
this  is  a  "Wednesday,  and  there'll  always  be  a  cup  of 
coPfee  for  you." 

She  thought  he  meant  that  he  could  not  have  hidden 
the  penny  under  his  foot,  and  she  went  away  a  little 
saddened  and  subdued,  notAvithstanding  her  great  delight 
in  the  expectation  of  such  a  treat  every  week;  while 
Daniel,  pondering  over  the  struggle  that  must  have 
passed  through  her  childish  mind,  went  on  his  way, 
from  time  to  time  shaking  his  head,  and  muttering  to 
himself,  '*  I  couldn't  have  done  it  myself ;  I  never  could 
have  done  it  myself." 


16  JESSICA'S  FIMST  PEAYEB. 


CHAPTER  III. 

AN    OLD    FRIEND    IN    A    NEW    DRESS. 

Week  after  week,  through  the  three  last  months  of 
the  year,  Jessica  appeared  every  Wednesday  at  the 
coffee-stall,  and,  after  waiting  patiently  till  the  close  of 
the  breakfasting  business,  received  her  pittance  from  the 
charity  of  her  new  friend.  After  a  while  Daniel  allowed 
her  to  carry  some  of  his  load  to  the  coffee-house,  but  he 
never  suffered  her  to  follow  farther,  and  he  was  always 
particular  to  watch  her  out  of  sight  before  he  turned  off 
through  the  intricate  mazes  of  the  streets  in  the  direc- 
tion of  his  own  home.  Neither  did  he  encourage  her  to 
ask  him  any  more  questions ;  and  often  but  very  few  words 
passed  between  them  during  Jessica's  breakfast-time. 

As  to  Jessica's  home,  she  made  no  secret  of  it,  and 
Daniel  might  have  followed  her  any  time  he  pleased. 
It  was  a  single  room,  which  had  once  been  a  hayloft 
over  the  stable  of  an  old  inn,  now  in  use  for  two  or  three 
donkeys,  the  property  of  costermongers  dwelling  in  the 
court  about  it.  The  mode  of  entrance  Avas  by  a  wooden 
ladder,  whose  rungs  were  crazy  and  broken,  and  which 
led  up  through  a  trap-door  in  the  floor  of  the  loft.  The 
interior  of  the  home  Avas  as  desolate  and  comfortless  as 
that  of  the  stable  below,  with  only  a  litter  of  straw  for 
the  bedding,  and  a  fcAV  bricks  and  boards  for  the  furni- 
ture. Everything  that  could  be  pawned  had  disappeared 
long  ago,  and  Jessica's  mother  often  lamented  that  she 
could  not  tlms  dispose  of  licv  cliild. 


AN  OLD  FRIEND  IN  A   NEW  DRESS.  17 

Yet  Jessica  was  hardly  a  burden  to  her.  It  was  a  long 
time  since  she  had  taken  any  care  to  provide  her  with 
food  or  clothing,  and  the  girl  had  to  earn  or  beg  for  her- 
self the  meat  which  kept  a  scanty  life  within  her.  Jess 
was  the  drudge  and  errand-girl  of  the  court ;  and  what 
with  being  cuffed  and  beaten  by  her  mother,  and  over- 
worked and  ill-used  by  her  numerous  employers,  her  life 
was  a  hard  one.  But  now  there  was  always  Wednesday 
morning  to  count  upon  and  look  forward  to  ;  and  by  and 
by  a  second  scene  of  amazed  delight  opened  upon  her. 

Jessica  had  wandered  far  away  from  home  in  the  early 
darkness  of  a  winter's  evening,  after  a  violent  outbreak 
of  her  drunken  mother,  and  slie  was  still  sobbing  now 
and  then,  with  long-drawn  sobs  of  pain  and  weariness, 
when  she  saw,  a  little  way  before  her,  the  tall,  well- 
known  figure  of  her  friend,  Mr.  Daniel.  He  was  dressed 
in  a  suit  of  black,  with  a  white  neckcloth,  and  he  was 
pacing  with  brisk  yet  measured  steps  along  the  lighted 
streets.  Jessica  felt  afraid  of  speaking  to  him,  but  she 
followed  at  a  little  distance,  until  presently  he  stopped 
before  the  iron  gates  of  a  large  building,  and,  unlocking 
them,  passed  on  to  the  arched  doorway,  and  with  a  heavy 
key  opened  the  folding  doors  and  entered  in. 

The  child  stole  after  him,  but  paused  for  a  few  minutes, 
trembling  upon  the  threshold,  until  the  gleam  of  a  light 
lit  up  within  tempted  her  to  venture  a  few  steps  for- 
ward, and  to  push  a  little  way  open  an  inner  door,  cov- 
ered with  crimson  baize,  only  so  far  as  to  enable  her  to 
peep  through  at  the  inside.  Then,  growing  bolder  by  de- 
grees, she  crept  through,  drawing  the  door  to  noiselessly 
behind  her.  The  place  was  in  partial  gloom,  but  Daniel 
was  kindling  every  gaslight,  and  eacli  minute  lit  it  up  in 
more  striking  grandeur.  She  stood  in  a  carpeted  aisle, 
with  high  oaken  pews  on  each  side,  rlmost  as  black  as 


18  JESSICA'S  FIRST  P BAYER. 

ebony.  A  gallery  of  the  same  dark  old  oak  ran  round 
the  walls,  resting  upon  massive  pillars,  behind  one  of 
which  she  was  partly  concealed,  gazing  with  eager  eyes 
at  Daniel  as  he  mounted  the  pulpit  steps  and  kindled  the 
lights  there,  disclosing  to  her  curious  delight  the  glitter- 
ing pipes  of  an  organ  behind  it. 

Before  long  the  slow  and  soft-footed  chapel-keeper  dis- 
appeared for  a  minute  or  two  into  a  vestry  ;  and  Jessica, 
availing  herself  of  his  short  absence,  stole  silently  up 
under  the  shelter  of  the  dark  pcAvs  until  she  reached  the 
steps  of  the  organ  loft,  with  its  golden  show.  But  at 
this  moment  Mr.  Daniel  appeared  again,  arrayed  in  a 
long  gown  of  dark  serge ;  and  as  she  stood  spellbound 
gazing  at  the  strange  appearance  of  her  patron,  his  eyes 
fell  upon  her,  and  he  also  was  struck  speechless  for  a 
minute,  with  an  air  of  amazement  and  dismay  upon  his 
grave  face. 

"  Come  now,"  he  exclaimed  harshly,  as  soon  as  he 
could  recover  his  presence  of  mind,  "  you  must  take  your- 
self out  of  this.  This  isn't  any  place  for  such  as  you. 
It's  for  ladies  and  gentlemen;  so  you  must  run  away 
sharp  before  anybody  comes.  How  ever  did  you  find 
your  wa}^  here  ?  " 

He  had  come  very  close  to  her,  and  bent  doAvn  to 
whisper  in  her  ear,  looking  nervously  round  to  the  en- 
trance all  the  time.     Jessica's  eager  tongue  was  loosened. 

"Mother  beat  me,"  she  said,  "and  turned  me  into  the 
streets,  and  I  see  you  tliere,  so  I  followed  you  up.  I'll 
run  away  this  minute,  INIr,  Dan'el ;  but  it's  a  nice  place. 
What  do  the  ladies  and  gentlenuMi  do  when  they  come 
here  ?     Tell  me,  and  I'll  be  off  sliarp." 

"  They  come  here  to  pray,"  whisj^ered  Daniel. 

"  What  is  '  pray  '  ?  "  asked  Jessica. 

"Bless  the  child  !  "  cried  Daniel  in  perplexity.    "Why, 


AN  OLD  FRIEND  IN  A  NEW  DRESS.  19 

they  kneel  clown  in  those  pews  ;  most  of  them  sit,  though  ; 
and  the  minister  up  in  the  pulpit  tells  God  what  they 
want." 

Jessica  gazed  into  his  face  with  such  an  air  of  bewilder- 
ment that  a  faint  smile  crept  over  the  sedate  features  of 
the  pew-opener. 

"What  is  a  minister  and  God?"  she  said;  "and  do 
ladies  and  gentlemen  want  anything  ?  I  thought  they'd 
everything  they  wanted,  ]Mr.  Dan'el." 

"  Oh,"  cried  Daniel,  "  you  must  be  off,  you  know. 
They'll  be  coming  in  a  minute,  and  they'd  be  shocked  to 
see  a  ragged  little  heathen  like  you.  This  is  the  pulpit 
where  the  minister  stands  and  preaches  to  'em ;  and 
there  are  the  pews  where  they  sit  to  listen  to  him,  or  to 
go  to  sleep,  maybe  ;  and  that's  the  organ  to  play  music  to 
their  singing.  There,  I've  told  you  everything,  and  you 
must  never  come  again,  never." 

"  Mr.  Dan'el,"  said  Jessica,  "  I  don't  know  nothing 
about  it.  Isn't  there  a  dark  little  corner  somewhere 
that  I  could  hide  in  ?  " 

"  Xo,  no,"  interrupted  Daniel  impatiently ;  "  we 
couldn't  do  with  such  a  little  heathen,  with  no  shoes  or 
bonnet  on.  Come,  now,  it's  only  a  quarter  to  the  tune, 
and  somebody  will  be  here  in  a  minute.  Run  away, 
do!" 

Jessica  retraced  her  steps  slowly  to  the  crimson  door, 
casting  many  a  longing  look  backwards ;  but  Mr.  Daniel 
stood  at  the  end  of  the  aisle,  frowning  upon  her  when- 
ever she  glanced  behind.  She  gained  the  lobby  at  last, 
but  already  some  one  was  approaching  the  chapel  door, 
and  beneath  the  lamp  at  the  gate  stood  one  of  her 
natural  enemies  —  a  policeman.  Her  heart  beat  fast, 
but  she  was  quick-witted,  and  in  another  instant  she 
spied  a  place  of  concealment  behind  one  of  the  doors, 


20  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRATER. 

into  which  she  crept  for  safety  until  tlie  path  should  be 
clear,  and  the  policeman  passed  on  upon  his  beat. 

The  congregation  quickly  began  to  arrive.  She  heard 
the  rustling  of  silk  dresses,  and  she  could  see  the  gentle- 
men and  ladies  pass  by  the  niche  between  the  door  and 
the  post.  Once  she  ventured  to  stretch  out  a  thin  little 
finger  and  touch  a  velvet  mantle  as  the  wearer  of  it 
swept  by,  but  no  one  caught  her  in  the  act,  or  suspected 
her  presence  behind  the  door.  Mr.  Daniel,  she  could 
see,  was  very  busy  ushering  the  people  to  their  seats ; 
but  there  was  a  startled  look  lingering  upon  his  face, 
and  every  now  and  then  he  peered  anxiously  into  the 
outer  gloom  and  darkness,  and  even  once  called  to  the 
policeman  to  ask  if  he  had  seen  a  ragged  child  hanging 
about. 

After  a  while  the  organ  began  to  sound,  and  Jessica, 
crouching  down  in  her  hiding-place,  listened  entranced 
to  the  sweet  music.  She  could  not  tell  what  made  her 
cry,  but  the  tears  came  so  rapidly  that  it  was  of  no  use 
to  rub  the  corners  of  her  eyes  with  her  hard  knuckles ; 
so  she  lay  down  upon  the  ground  and  buried  her  face  in 
her  hands,  and  wept  Avithout  restraint. 

When  the  singing  was  over  she  could  only  catch  a 
confused  soiind  of  a  voice  speaking.  The  lobby  was 
empty  now,  and  the  crimson  doors  closed.  The  police- 
man also  had  Avalked  on.  This  was  the  moment  to 
escape.  She  raised  herself  from  the  ground  with  a 
feeling  of  weariness  and  sorrow ;  and,  thinking  sadly  of 
the  light  and  warmth  and  music  that  were  within  the 
closed  doors,  she  stepped  out  into  the  cold  and  darkness 
of  the  streets,  and  loitered  liomeAvards  with  a  heavy 
heart. 


PEEPS  INTO  FAIRYLAND.  21 


CHAPTER   IV. 

PEEPS    INTO    FAIRYLAND. 

It  was  not  tlie  last  time  that  Jessica  concealed  lierself 
behind  the  baize-covered  door.  She  could  not  overcome 
the  urgent  desire  to  enjoy  again  and  again  the  secret  and 
perilous  j)leasure  ;  and  Sunday  after  Sunday  she  watched 
in  the  dark  streets  for  the  moment  when  she  could  slip 
in  unseen.  She  soon  learned  the  exact  time  when  Daniel 
would  be  occupied  in  lighting  up,  before  the  policeman 
would  take  up  his  station  at  the  entrance,  and,  again,  the 
very  minute  at  which  it  would  be  wise  and  safe  to  take 
her  departure.  Sometimes  the  child  laughed  noiselessly 
to  herself,  until  she  shook  with  suppressed  merriment,  as 
she  saw  Daniel  standing  unconsciously  in  the  lobby,  with 
his  solemn  face  and  grave  air,  to  receive  the  congrega- 
tion, much  as  he  faced  his  customers  at  the  coffee-stall. 
She  learned  to  know  the  minister  by  sight  —  the  tall, 
thin,  pale  gentleman,  who  passed  through  a  side  door, 
with  liis  head  bent  as  if  in  deep  thought,  while  two  little 
girls,  about  her  own  age,  followed  him,  with  sedate  yet 
pleasant  faces. 

Jessica  took  a  great  interest  in  the  minister's  children. 
The  younger  one  was  fair,  and  the  elder  was  about  as  tall 
as  herself,  and  had  eyes  and  hair  as  dark ;  but  oh,  how 
cared  for,  how  plainly  Avaited  on  by  tender  hands  !  Some- 
times, when  they  were  gone  by,  she  would  close  her  eyes, 
and  wonder  what  they  would  do  in  one  of  the  high  black 
pews  inside,  where  there  was  no  place  for  a  ragged,  bare- 


22  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRAYER. 

footed  girl  like  her  ;  and  now  and  then  her  wonderings 
almost  ended  in  a  sob,  which  she  was  compelled  to 
stifle. 

It  was  an  nntold  relief  to  Daniel  that  Jessica  did  not 
ply  him  with  questions,  as  he  feared,  when  she  came  for 
breakfast  every  Wednesday  morning;  but  she  was  too 
shrewd  and  cunning  for  that.  She  wished  him  to  forget 
that  she  had  ever  been  there,  and  by  and  by  her  wish  was 
accomplished,  and  Daniel  was  no  longer  uneasy  while  he 
was  lighting  the  lamps,  with  the  dread  of  seeing  the 
child's  wild  face  starting  up  before  him. 

But  tlie  light  evenings  of  summer-time  were  drawing 
near  apace,  and  Jessica  foresaw,  with  dismay,  that  her 
Sunday  treats  would  soon  be  over.  The  risk  of  discovery 
increased  every  week,  for  the  sun  was  later  and  later  in 
setting,  and  there  would  be  no  chance  of  creeping  in  and 
out  unseen  in  the  broad  daylight.  Already  it  needed 
both  watchfulness  and  alertness  to  dart  in  at  the  right 
moment  in  the  gray  twilight ;  but  still  she  could  not  give 
it  up ;  and  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  fear  of  offending 
Mr.  Daniel,  she  would  have  resolved  upon  going  until  she 
was  found  out.  They  could  not  punish  her  very  much 
for  standing  in  the  lobby  of  a  chapel. 

Jessica  was  found  out,  however,  before  the  dusky 
evenings  were  quite  gone.  It  happened  one  night  that 
the  minister's  children,  coming  early  to  the  chapel,  saw 
a  small  tattered  figure,  bareheaded  and  barefooted,  dart 
swiftly  up  the  steps  before  them  and  disappear  within 
the  lobby.  They  paused  and  looked  at  one  another,  and 
then,  hand  in  hand,  their  hearts  beating  quickly,  and  the 
color  coming  and  going  on  tlieir  faces,  they  followed  this 
strange  new  member  of  their  father's  congregation.  The 
pew-opener  was  nowhere  to  be  seen,  but  their  quick  eyes 
detected  the  prints  of  the  wot  little  feet  which  had  trod- 


PEEPS  INTO  FAIliYLAND.  23 

den  the  clean  pavement  before  them,  and  in  an  instant 
they  discovered  Jessica  crouching  behind  the  door. 

"  Let  lis  call  Daniel  Standring,"  said  Winny,  the 
younger  child,  clinging  to  her  sister ;  but  she  had  spoken 
aloud,  and  Jessica  overheard  her,  and  before  they  could 
stir  a  step  she  stood  before  them  with  an  earnest  and 
imploring  face. 

"  Oh,  don't  have  me  drove  away,"  she  cried ;  "  I'm  a 
very  poor  little  girl,  and  it's  all  the  pleasure  I've  got. 
I've  seen  you  lots  of  times  with  tliat  tall  gentleman  as 
stoops,  and  I  didn't  think  you'd  have  me  drove  away.  I 
don't  do  any  harm  behind  the  door,  and  if  jNIr.  Dan'el 
finds  me  out  he  won't  give  me  any  more  coffee." 

"Little  girl,"  said  the  elder  child,  in  a  composed  and 
demure  voice,  "  we  don't  mean  to  be  unkind  to  you  ;  but 
what  do  you  come  here  for,  and  why  do  you  hide  your- 
self behind  the  door  ?  " 

"  I  like  to  hear  the  music,"  answered  Jessica,  "  and  I 
want  to  find  out  what  pray  is,  and  the  minister,  and  God. 
I  know  it's  only  for  ladies  and  gentlemen  and  fine  chil- 
dren like  you  ;  but  I'd  like  to  go  inside  just  for  once,  and 
see  what  j-ou  do." 

"  You  shall  come  with  us  into  our  pew,"  cried  "Winny, 
in  an  eager  and  impulsive  tone ;  but  Jane  laid  her  hand 
upon  her  outstretched  arm,  with  a  glance  at  Jessica's 
ragged  clothes  and  matted  hair.  It  was  a  question 
difficult  enough  to  perplex  them.  The  little  outcast  was 
plainly  too  dirty  and  neglected  for  them  to  invite  her  to 
sit  side  by  side  with  them  in  their  crimson-lined  pew, 
and  no  poor  people  attended  the  chapel  with  whom  she 
could  have  a  seat.  But  Winny,  with  flushed  cheeks  and 
indignant  eyes,  looked  reproachfully  at  her  elder  sister. 

"  Jane,"  she  said,  opening  lier  Testament,  and  turning 
over  the  leaves  hurriedly,  "  this  was  papa's  text  a  little 


24  JESSICA'S  FIEST  PRAYER. 

while  ago :  •'  For  if  there  come  unto  your  assembly  a 
man  with  a  gold  ring,  in  goodly  apparel,  and  there  come 
in  also  a  poor  man,  in  vile  raiment ;  and  ye  have  respect 
to  him  that  weareth  the  gay  clothing,  and  say  unto  him. 
Sit  thou  here  in  a  good  place ;  and  say  to  the  poor,  Stand 
thou  there,  or  sit  here  under  my  footstool :  are  ye  not 
then  partial  in  yourselves,  and  are  become  judges  of  evil 
thoughts  ?  '  If  we  don't  take  this  little  girl  into  our 
pew,  Ave  'have  not  the  faith  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Lord  of  glory,  with  respect  to  persons.'  " 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  do,"  answered  Jane,  sighing. 
"  The  Bible  seems  plain ;  but  I'm  sure  papa  would  not 
like  it.     Let  us  ask  the  chapel-keeper." 

"  Oh,  no,  no  !  "  cried  Jessica ;  ''  don't  let  Mr.  Dan'el 
catch  me  here.  I  won't  come  again,  indeed ;  and  I'll 
promise  not  to  try  and  find  out  about  God  and  the  min- 
ister if  you'll  only  let  me  go." 

"  But,  little  girl,"  said  Jane,  in  a  sweet  but  grave 
manner,  "  we  ought  to  teach  you  about  God,  if  you  don't 
know  Him.  Our  papa  is  the  minister,  and  if  you'll  come 
with  us  we'll  ask  him  what  we  must  do." 

"  Will  Mr.  Dan'el  see  me  ?  "  asked  Jessica. 

''  Nobody  but  papa  is  in  the  vestry,"  answered  Jane, 
"  and-  he'll  tell  us  all,  you  and  us,  what  we  ought  to  do. 
You'll  not  be  afraid  of  him,  will  you  ?  " 

''  No,"  said  Jessica  cheerfully,  following  the  minister's 
children  as  they  led  her  along  the  side  of  the  chapel 
towards  the  vestry. 

"  He  is  not  such  a  terrible  personage,"  said  Winny, 
looking  round  encouragingly,  as  Jane  tapped  softly  at 
the  door,  and  tliey  heard  a  voice  saying,  "  Come  in." 


A   NEW   WOULD   OPENS.  2o 


CHAPTEK  V. 

A   NEW   "WORLD    OPEXS. 

The  minister  was  sitting  in  an  easy-chair  before  a  com- 
fortable tire,  witli  a  hymn-book  in  his  hand,  which  he 
closed  as  the  three  children  appeared  in  the  open  door- 
way. Jessica  had  seen  his  pale  and  thoughtful  face  many 
a  time  from  her  hiding-place,  but  she  had  never  met  the 
keen,  earnest,  searching  gaze  of  his  eyes,  which  seemed 
to  pierce  through  all  her  wretchedness  and  misery,  and  to 
read  at  once  the  whole  history  of  her  desolate  life.  But 
before  her  eyelids  could  droop,  or  she  could  drop  a  rever- 
ential courtesy,  the  minister's  face  kindled  with  such  a 
glow  of  pitying  tenderness  and  compassion  as  she  fastened 
her  eyes  upon  him,  and  gave  her  new  heart  and  courage. 
His  children  ran  to  him,  leaving  Jessica  upon  the  mat  at 
the  door,  and  with  eager  voices  and  gestures  told  him 
the  difficulty  they  were  in. 

"  Come  here,  little  girl,"  he  said ;  and  Jessica  walked 
across  the  carpeted  floor  till  she  stood  right  before  him, 
Avith  folded  hands,  and  eyes  that  looked  frankly  into 
his. 

"  What  is  your  name,  my  child  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Jessica,"  she  answered. 

"  Jessica,"  he  repeated,  with  a  smile ;  "  that  is  a 
strange  name." 

"  Mother  used  to  play  Jessica '  at  the  theatre,  sir," 
she  said ;  "  and  I  used  to  be  a  fairy  in  the  pantomime 
till  I  grew  too  tall  and  ugh'.     If  I'm  pretty  when  I  grow 


26  JESSICA'S  FIUST  PRAYER. 

up,  mother  says  I  shall  play  too ;  but  I've  a  long  time  to 
wait.     Are  you  the  minister,  sir  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  he  answered,  smiling  again. 

"  What  is  a  minister  ?  "  she  inquired. 

"A  servant,"  he  replied,  looking  away  thoughtfully 
into  the  red  embers  of  the  fire. 

"  Papa ! "  cried  Jane  and  Winny,  in  tones  of  astonish- 
ment ;  but  Jessica  gazed  steadily  at  the  minister,  who 
was  now  looking  back  again  into  her  bright  eyes. 

"  Please,  sir,  whose  servant  are  you  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  The  servant  of  God  and  of  man,"  he  answered 
solemnly.     "  Jessica,  I  am  your  servant." 

The  child  shook  her  head  and  laughed  shrilly  as  she 
gazed  round  the  room,  and  at  the  handsome  clothing  of 
the  minister's  daughters,  while  she  drew  her  rags  closer 
about  her  and  shivered  a  little,  as  if  she  felt  the  sting  of 
the  east  wind,  which  was  blowing  keenly  through  the 
streets.  The  sound  of  her  shrill,  childish  laugh  made 
the  minister's  heart  ache,  and  the  tears  burn  under  his 
eyelids. 

"Who  is  God?"  asked  the  child.  "When  mother's 
in  a  good  temper  sometimes  she  says,  '  God  bless  me  ! ' 
Do  you  know  Him,  please,  minister  ?  " 

But  before  there  was  time  to  answer  the  door  into  the 
chapel  was  opened,  and  Daniel  stood  upon  the  threshold. 
At  first  he  stared  blandly  forwards,  but  then  his  grave 
face  grew  ghastly  pale,  and  he  laid  his  hand  vipon  the 
door  to  support  himself  until  he  could  recover  his  speech 
and  senses.  Jessica  also  looked  about  her,  scared  and 
irresolute,  as  if  anxious  to  run  away,  or  to  hide  herself. 
The  minister  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  Jessica,"  he  said,  "  there  is  a  place  close  under  my 
pulpit  where  you  shall  sit,  and  wliere  I  can  see  you  all 
the  time.     Be  a  good  girl  and  listen,  and  you  will  hear 


A   NEW   WORLD   OPENS.  27 

something  about  God.     Standring,  put  this  little  one  in 
front  of  the  pews  by  the  pulpit  steps." 

But  before  she  could  believe  it  for  very  gladness, 
Jessica  found  herself  inside  the  chapel,  facing  the  glit- 
tering organ,  from  which  a  sweet  strain  of  music  was 
sounding.  Not  far  from  her  Jane  and  Winny  were  pee])- 
ing  over  the  front  of  their  pew,  with  friendly  smiles  and 
glances.  It  was  evident  that  the  minister's  elder  daugh- 
ter was  anxious  about  her  behavior,  and  she  made  ener- 
getic signs  to  her  when  to  stand  up  and  wlien  to  kneel ; 
but  Winny  was  content  with  smiling  at  her  whenever  her 
head  rose  above  the  top  of  the  pew.  Jessica  was  happy, 
but  not  in  the  least  abashed.  The  ladies  and  gentlemen 
were  not  at  all  unlike  those  whom  she  had  often  seen  when 
she  was  a  fairy  at  the  theatre ;  and  very  soon  her  atten- 
tion was  engrossed  by  the  minister,  whose  eyes  often  fell 
upon  her  as  she  gazed  eagerly,  with  uplifted  face,  upon 
him.  She  could  scarcely  understand  a  word  of  what  he 
said,  but  she  liked  the  tones  of  his  voice,  and  the  tender 
pity  of  his  face  as  he  looked  down  upon  her.  Daniel 
hovered  about  a  good  deal,  with  an  air  of  uneasiness  and 
displeasure,  but  she  was  unconscious  of  his  presence. 
Jessica  was  intent  upon  finding  out  what  a  minister  and 
God  were. 


28  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRAYER. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE    FIRST    PRAYER. 


Whex  the  service  was  ended,  the  minister  descended 
the  pulpit  steps,  just  as  Daniel  was  about  to  hurry 
Jessica  away,  and,  taking  her  by  the  hand  in  the  face  of 
all  the  congregation,  he  led  her  into  the  vestry,  whither 
Jane  and  Winny  quickly  followed  them.  He  was  fa- 
tigued with  the  services  of  the  day,  and  his  pale  face 
was  paler  than  ever  as  lie  placed  Jessica  before  his  chair, 
into  which  he  tlirew  himself  with  an  air  of  exhaustion ; 
but,  bowing  his  head  upon  his  liands,  he  said  in  a  low 
but  clear  tone,  "  Lord,  these  are  the  lambs  of  Tliy  flock. 
Help  me  to  feed  Thy  lambs  !  " 

"  Children,"  he  said,  with  a  smile  upon  his  weary  face, 
"  it  is  no  easy  thing  to  know  God.  But  this  one  thing 
we  know,  that  He  is  our  Father  —  my  Father  and  your 
Father,  Jessica.  He  loves  you  and  cares  for  you  more 
than  I  do  for  my  little  girls  here." 

He  smiled  at  them  and  they  at  him,  with  an  expression 
which  Jessica  felt  and  understood,  though  it  made  her 
sad.  She  trembled  a  little,  and  the  minister's  ear  caught 
the  sound  of  a  faint  though  bitter  sob. 

"  T  never  had  any  father,"  she  said  sorrowfully. 

"  God  is  your  Father,"  he  answered  very  gently  ;  "  He 
knows  all  about  you,  because  He  is  present  everywhere. 
We  cannot  see  Him  ;  but  we  have  only  to  speak,  and  He 
hcai-s  us,  and  we  may  ask  Him  for  wliatever  we  want." 

"Will  He  let  me  speak  to   Him  as  well  as  these  fine 


THE  FiiisT  rnAriJii.  29 

children  that  are  clean  and  liave  got  nice  clothes  ? " 
asked  Jessica,  glancing  anxiously  at  her  nniddy  feet  and 
her  soiled  and  tattered  frock. 

"Yes,"  said  the  minister,  smiling,  yet  sighing  at  the 
same  time ;  "  you  may  ask  Him  this  moment  for  what 
you  want." 

Jessica  gazed  round  the  room  with  large,  wide-open 
eyes,  as  if  she  were  seeking  to  see  God ;  but  then  she 
shut  her  eyelids  tightly,  and  bending  her  head  upon  her 
hands,  as  she  had  seen  the  minister  do,  she  said,  "0  God! 
I  want  to  know  about  You.  And  please  pay  Mr.  Dan'el 
for  all  the  warm  coffee  he's  give  me." 

Jane  and  Winny  listened  with  faces  of  unutterable 
amazement ;  but  the  tears  stood  in  the  minister's  eyes, 
and  he  added  '•  Amen  "  to  Jessica's  first  prayer. 


80  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRAYER, 


CHAPTER    VII. 

HARD    QUESTIONS. 

Daxiel  had  no  opportunity  for  speaking  to  Jessica ; 
for,  after  waiting  until  the  minister  left  the  vestry,  he 
found  that  she  had  gone  aAvay  by  the  side  entrance.  He 
had  to  wait,  therefore,  until  Wednesday  morning,  and 
the  sight  of  her  pinched  little  face  was  welcome  to  him 
when  he  saw  it  looking  wistfully  over  the  coffee-stall. 
Yet  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  forbid  her  to  come 
again,  and  to  threaten  her  with  the  policeman  if  he  ever 
caught  her  at  the  chapel,  where  for  the  future  he  in- 
tended to  keep  a  sharper  lookout.  But  before  he  covild 
speak  Jess  had  slipped  under  the  stall,  and  taken  her  old 
seat  upon  the  upturned  basket. 

"  Mr.  Dan' el,"  she  said,  "  has  God  paid  you  for  my 
sups  of  coffee  yet  ?  " 

"  Paid  me  ?  "  he  repeated  ;  "  God  ?     No." 

"  Well,  he  will,"  she  answered,  nodding  her  head 
sagely ;  "  don't  you  be  afraid  of  your  money,  Mr.  Dan'el ; 
I've  asked  Him  a  many  times,  and  the  minister  says  He's 
sure  to  do  it." 

"  Jess,"  said  Daniel  sternly,  "  have  you  been  and  told 
the  minister  about  my  coffee-stall  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  answered,  with  a  beaming  smile  ;  "  but  I've 
told  God  lots  and  lots  of  times  since  Sunday,  and  He's 
sure  to  pay  in  a  day  or  two." 

"  Jess,"  continued  Daniel  more  gently,  "  you're  a  sliarp 
little  girl,  I  see  ;  and  now,  mind,  I'm  going  to  trust  you. 


HARD   QUESTIONS.  31 

You're  never  to  say  a  word  about  me  or  my  coffee-stall ; 
because  the  folks  at  our  chapel  are  very  grand,  and 
miglit  think  it  low  and  mean  of  me  to  keep  a  coffee-stall. 
Very  likely  they'd  say  I  mustn't  be  cliapel-keeper  any 
longer,  and  I  should  lose  a  deal  of  money." 

"  Why  do  you  keep  the  stall  then  ?  "  asked  Jessica. 

"  Don't  you  see  what  a  many  pennies  I  get  every 
morning  ?  "  he  said,  shaking  his  canvas  bag.  "  I  get  a 
good  deal  of  money  that  way  in  a  year." 

"  What  do  you  want  such  a  deal  of  money  for  ?  "  she 
inquired.     "  Do  you  give  it  to  God  ?  " 

Daniel  did  not  answer,  but  the  question  went  to  his 
heart  like  a  sword-thrust.  What  did  he  want  so  much 
money  for  ?  He  thought  of  his  one  bare,  solitary  room, 
where  he  lodged  alone,  a  good  way  from  the  railway 
bridge,  with  very  few  comforts  in  it,  but  containing  a 
desk,  strongly  and  securely  fastened,  in  which  was  his 
savings-bank  book  and  his  receipts  for  money  put  out 
at  interest,  and  a  bag  of  sovereigns,  for  which  he  had 
been  toiling  and  slaving  both  on  Sundays  and  week- 
days. He  could  not  remember  giving  anything  away, 
except  the  dregs  of  the  coffee  and  the  stale  buns,  for 
which  Jessica  was  asking  God  to  pay  him.  He  coughed 
and  cleared  his  throat,  and  rubbed  his  eyes ;  and  then, 
with  nervous  and  hesitating  fingers,  he  took  a  penny 
from  his  bag  and  slipped  it  into  Jessica's  hand. 

"  No,  no,  Mr.  Dan'el,"  she  said ;  "  I  don't  want  you  to 
give  me  any  of  your  pennies.     I  want  God  to  pay  you." 

"  Ay,  He'll  pay  me,"  muttered  Daniel :  '•'  there'll  be  a 
day  of  reckoning  by  and  by." 

"  Does  God  have  reckoning  days  ? "  asked  Jessica. 
"  I  used  to  like  reckoning  days  when  I  was  a  fairy." 

"  Ay,  ay,"  he  answered ;  "  but  there's  few  folks  like 
God's  reckoning  days." 


82  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRAYER. 

"  But  you'll  be  glad,  won't  you  ?  "  she  said. 

Daniel  bade  her  get  on  with  her  breakfast,  and  then  he 
turned  over  in  his  mind  the  thoughts  which  her  questions 
had  awakened.  Conscience  told  him  he  would  not  be 
glad  to  meet  God's  reckoning  day. 

"  Mr.  Dan'el,"  said  Jessica,  when  they  were  about  to 
separate,  and  he  would  not  take  back  his  gift  of  a  penny, 
"  if  you  wouldn't  mind,  I'd  like  to  come  and  buy  a  cup 
of  coffee  to-morroAv,  like  a  customer,  you  know ;  and  1 
won't  let  out  a  word  about  the  stall  to  the  minister  next 
Sunday ;  don't  be  afraid." 

She  tied  the  penny  carefully  into  a  corner  of  her  rags, 
and,  with  a  cheerful  smile  upon  her  thin  face,  she  glided 
from  under  the  shadow  of  the  bridge,  and  was  soon  lost 
to  Daniel's  sight. 


^.V  UNEXPECTED  riiiiroR.  33 


CHAPTER   YIII. 


AN    UXEXPKCTED    VISITOR. 


"When  Jessica  came  to  the  street  into  which  opened 
the  court  where  she  lived,  she  saw  an  unusual  degree  of 
excitement  among  the  inhabitants,  a  group  of  whom  were 
gathered  about  a  tall  gentleman,  whom  she  recognized  in 
an  instant  to  be  the  minister.  She  elbowed  her  way 
through  the  midst  of  tliem,  and  the  minister's  face  bright- 
ened as  she  presented  herself  before  him.  He  followed 
her  up  the  low  entry,  across  the  squalid  court,  through 
the  stable,  empty  of  the  donkeys  just  then,  up  the  creak- 
ing rounds  of  the  ladder,  and  into  the  miserable  loft, 
where  the  tiles  were  falling  in,  and  the  broken  window- 
panes  were  stuffed  with  rags  and  paper.  Near  to  the- 
old  rusty  stove,  which  served  as  a  grate  when  there  was. 
any  fire,  there  was  a  short  board  laid  across  some  bricks,, 
and  upon  this  the  minister  took  his  seat,  while  Jessica 
sat  upon  the  floor  before  him. 

"  Jessica,"  he  said  sadly,  "'  is  this  where  you  live  ?  " 

"Yes,"  she  answered;  "but  we'd  a  nicer  room  than 
tliis  when  I  was  a  fairy,  and  mother  played  at  the  thea- 
tre; we  shall  be  better  off  when  I'm  grown  up,  if  I'm 
pretty  enough  to  play  like  her." 

"  My  child,"  he  said,  "  I'm  come  to  ask  your  mother 
to  let  you  go  to  school  in  a  pleasant  place  down  in  the 
country.     "Will  she  let  you  go  ?  " 

"No,"  answered  Jessica.  "IMother  says  she'll  never 
let  me  learn  to  read,  or  go  to  church ;  she  says  it  would 


34  JESSICA'S   FIRST  PRAYER. 

make  me  good  for  nothing.  But  please,  sir,  she  doesn't 
know  anything  about  your  church,  it's  such  a  long  way 
off,  and  she  hasn't  found  me  out  yet.  She  always  gets 
very  drunk  of  a  Sunday." 

The  child  spoke  simply,  and  as  if  all  she  said  was  a 
matter  of  course  ;  but  the  minister  shuddered,  and  he 
looked  through  the  broken  window  to  the  little  patch  of 
gloomy  sky  overhead. 

"  What  can  I  do  ?  "  he  cried  mournfully,  as  though 
speaking  to  himself. 

"Nothing,  please,  sir,"  said  Jessica;  "only  let  me 
come  to  hear  you  of  a  Sunday,  and  tell  me  about  God. 
If  you  was  to  give  me  fine  clothes  like  your  little  girls, 
mother  'ud  only  pawn  them  for  gin.  You  cannot  do 
anything  more  for  me." 

"  Where  is  your  mother  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Out  on  a  spree,"  said  Jessica ;  "  and  she  wpn't  be 
home  for  a  day  or  two.  She'd  not  hearken  to  you,  sir. 
There's  the  missionary  came,  and  she  pushed  him  down 
the  ladder,  till  he  was  nearly  killed.  They  used  to  call 
mother  the  Vixen  at  the  theatre,  and  nobody  durst  say  a 
word  to  her." 

The  minister  was  silent  for  some  minutes,  thinking 
painful  thoughts,  for  his  eyes  seemed  to  darken  as  he 
looked  round  the  miserable  room,  and  his  face  wore  an 
air  of  sorrow  and  disappointment.  At  last  he  spoke 
again. 

"  Who  is  Mr.  Daniel,  Jessica  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  Oh,"  she  said  cunningly,  "  he's  only  a  friend  of  mine 
as  gives  me  sups  of  coffee.  You  don't  know  all  the  folks 
in  London,  sir !  " 

"  No,"  he  answered,  smiling ;  "  but  does  he  keep  a 
coffee-stall  ?  " 

Jessica  nodded  her  head,  but  did  not  trust  herself  to 
speak. 


AN  UNEXPECTED   VISITOR.  35 

"  How  much  does  a  cup  of  coffee  cost  ?  "  asked  the 
minister. 

"  A  full  cup's  a  penny,"  she  answered  promptly ;  '^  but 
you  can  have  half  a  cup ;  and  there  are  halfpenny  and 
penny  buns." 

"  Good  coffee  and  bims  ?  "  he  said  with  another  smile. 

"  Prime,"  replied  Jessica,  smacking  her  lips. 

"  Well,"  continued  the  minister,  "  tell  your  friend  to 
give  you  a  fidl  cup  of  coffee  and  a  penny  bun  every 
morning,  and  I'll  pay  for  them  as  often  as  he  chooses  to 
come  to  me  for  the  money." 

Jessica's  face  beamed  with  delight,  but  in  an  instant 
it  clouded  over,  as  she  recollected  Daniel's  secret,  and 
her  lips  quivered  as  she  spoke  her  disappointed  reply. 

"  Please,  sir,"  she  said,  "  I'm  sure  he  couldn't  come ; 
oh,  he  couldn't.  It's  such  a  long  way,  and  Mr.  Dan'el 
has  plenty  of  customers.  No,  he  never  would  come  to 
you  for  the  mone3^" 

"  Jessica,"  he  answered,  "  I  will  tell  you  what  I  will 
do.  I  will  trust  you  with  a  shilling  every  Sunday,  if 
you'll  promise  to  give  it  to  your  friend  the  very  first 
time  you  see  him.  I  shall  be  sure  to  know  if  you  cheat 
me."  And  the  keen,  piercing  eyes  of  the  minister 
looked  down  into  Jessica's,  and  once  more  the  tender 
and  pitying  smile  returned  to  his  face. 

"  I  can  do  nothing  else  for  you  ?  "  he  said  in  a  tone 
of  mingled  sorrow  and  questioning. 

"  No,  minister,"  answered  Jessica ;  "  only  tell  me  about 
God." 

"  I  will  tell  you  one  thing  about  Him  now,"  he  replied. 
"  If  I  took  you  to  live  in  my  house  with  my  little 
daughters,  you  would  have  to  be  washed  and  clothed  in 
new  clothing  to  make  you  fit  for  it.  God  wanted  us  to 
go  and  live  at  home  with  Him  in  heaven,  but  we  were 


36  JESSICA'S   FIRST  PRAYER. 

SO  sinful  that  we  could  never  have  been  fit  for  it.  So 
He  sent  His  own  Son  to  live  amongst  us,  and  die  for  us, 
to  wash  us  from  our  sins,  and  to  give  us  new  clothing, 
and  to  make  us  ready  to  live  in  God's  house.  When  you 
ask  God  for  anything,  you  must  say,  '  For  Jesus  Christ's 
sake.'     Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God." 

After  these  words  the  minister  carefully  descended 
the  ladder,  followed  by  Jessica's  bare  and  nimble  feet, 
and  she  led  him  by  the  nearest  way  into  one  of  the  great 
thoroughfares  of  the  city,  where  he  said  good-by  to  her, 
adding,  "  God  bless  you,  my  child,"  in  a  tone  which  sank 
into  Jessica's  heart.  He  had  put  a  silver  sixpence  into 
her  hand  to  provide  for  her  breakfast  the  next  three 
mornings,  and,  with  a  feeling  of  being  very  rich,  she 
returned  to  her  miserable  home. 

The  next  morning  Jessica  presented  herself  proudly 
as  a  customer  at  Daniel's  stall,  and  paid  over  the  six- 
pence in  advance.  He  felt  a  little  troubled  as  he  heard 
her  story,  lest  the  minister  should  endeavor  to  find  him 
out ;  but  he  could  not  refuse  to  let  the  child  come  daily 
for  her  comfortable  breakfast.  If  he  was  detected,  he 
would  promise  to  give  up  his  coffee-stall  rather  than  of- 
fend the  great  people  of  the  chapel ;  but  unless  he  Avas, 
it  would  be  foolish  of  him  to  lose  the  money  it  brought 
him  in  week  after  week. 


JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRAYER  ANSWERED.         37 


CHAPTEE   IX. 
Jessica's  first  prayer  answered. 

Every  Sunday  evening  the  barefooted  and  bareheaded 
child  might  be  seen  advancing  confidently  up  to  the 
shapel  where  rich  and  fashionable  people  worshipped 
God ;  but  before  taking  her  place  she  arrayed  herself  in 
a  little  cloak  and  bonnet,  which  had  once  belonged  to  the 
minister's  elder  daughter,  and  which  Avas  kept  with  Dan- 
iel's serge  gown,  so  that  she  presented  a  somewhat  more 
respectable  appearance  in  the  eyes  of  the  congregation. 
The  minister  had  no  listener  more  attentive,  and  he  would 
have  missed  the  pinched,  earnest  little  face  if  it  were  not 
to  be  seen  in  the  seat  just  under  the  pulpit.  At  the  close 
of  each  service  he  spoke  to  her  for  a  minute  or  two  in  his 
vestry,  often  saying  no  more  than  a  single  sentence,  for 
the  day's  labor  had  wearied  him.  The  shilling,  which 
was  always  lying  upon  the  chimney-piece,  placed  there  by 
Jane  and  Winnie  in  turns,  was  immediately  handed  over 
according  to  promise,  to  Daniel  as  she  left  the  chapel, 
and  so  Jessica's  breakfast  Avas  provided  for  her  Aveek 
after  week. 

But  at  last  there  came  a  Sunday  evening  AA'hen  the 
minister,  going  up  into  his  pulpit,  did  miss  the  Avistful, 
hungry  face,  and  the  shilling  lay  unclaimed  upon  the 
vestry  chimney-piece.  Daniel  looked  out  for  her  anx- 
iously every  morning,  but  no  Jessica  glided  into  his  se- 
cluded corner,  to  sit  beside  him  Avith  her  breakfast  on  her 
lap,  and  Avith  a  number  of  strange  questions  to  ask.     He 


38  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRAYER. 

felt  her  absence  more  keenly  tlian  lie  could  have  expected. 
The  child  was  nothing  to  him,  he  kept  saying  to  himself ; 
and  yet  he  felt  that  she  was  something,  and  that  he  could 
not  help  being  uneasy  and  anxious  about  her.  Why  had 
he  never  inquired  where  she  lived  ?  The  minister  knew, 
and  for  a  minute  Daniel  thought  he  would  go  and  ask 
him,  but  that  might  awaken  suspicion.  How  could  he 
account  for  so  much  anxiety,  when  he  was  supposed  only 
to  know  of  her  absence  from  chapel  one  Sunday  even- 
ing ?  It  would  be  running  a  risk,  and,  after  all,  Jessica 
was  nothing  to  him.  So  he  went  home  and  looked  over 
his  savings-bank  book,  and  counted  his  money,  and  he 
found,  to  his  satisfaction,  that  he  had  gathered  together 
nearly  four  hundred  pounds,  and  was  adding  more  every 
week. 

But  when  upon  the  next  Sunday  Jessica's  seat  was 
again  empty,  the  anxiety  of  the  solemn  chapel-keeper 
overcame  his  prudence  and  his  fears.  The  minister  had 
retired  to  his  vestry,  and  was  standing  with  his  arm  rest- 
ing upon  the  chimney-piece,  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the 
unclaimed  shilling,  which  Winny  had  laid  there  before 
the  service,  when  there  was  a  tap  at  the  door,  and  Daniel 
entered  with  a  respectful  but  hesitating  air. 

"  Well,  Standring  ?  "  said  tlie  minister  questioningly. 

"  Sir,"  he  said,  "  I'm  uncomfortable  about  that  little 
girl,  and  I  know  you've  been  once  to  see  after  her ;  she 
told  me  about  it ;  and  so  I  make  bold  to  ask  you  Avliere 
she  lives,  and  I'll  see  what's  become  of  her." 

"Right,  Standring,"  answered  the  minister;  "I  am 
troubled  about  the  child,  and  so  are  my  little  girls.  I 
thought  of  going  myself,  but  my  time  is  very  much 
occupied  just  now." 

"  I'll  go,  sir,"  replied  Daniel  promptly ;  and,  after  re- 
ceiving the  necessary  information  about  Jessica's  home, 


JESSICA'S  FIRST  mAYEIi  ANSWERED.  39 

he  put  out  the  lights,  locked  the  door,  and  turned  towards 
his  lonely  lodgings. 

But  though  it  was  getting  late  upon  Sunday  evening, 
and  Jessica's  home  Avas  a  long  way  distant,  Daniel  found 
that  his  anxiety  would  not  suffer  him  to  return  to  his 
solitary  room.  It  was  of  no  use  to  reason  with  himself, 
as  he  stood  at  the  corner  of  the  street,  feeling  perplexed 
and  troubled,  and  promising  his  conscience  that  he  would 
go  the  very  first  thing  in  the  morning  after  he  shut  up 
his  coifee-stall.  In  the  dim,  dusky  light,  as  the  summer 
evening  drew  to  a  close,  he  fancied  he  could  see  Jessica's 
thin  figure  and  wan  face  gliding  on  before  him,  and  turn- 
ing round  from  time  to  time  to  see  if  he  were  following. 
It  was  only  fancy,  and  he  laughed  a  little  at  himself ; 
but  the  laugh  was  husky,  and  there  was  a  choking  sen- 
sation in  his  throat,  so  he  buttoned  his  Sunday  coat  over 
his  breast  where  his  silver  watch  and  chain  hung  tempt- 
ingly, and  started  off  at  a  rapid  pace  for  the  centre  of  the 
city. 

It  was  not  quite  dark  when  he  reached  the  court,  and 
stumbled  up  the  narrow  entry  leading  to  it ;  but  Daniel 
did  hesitate  when  he  opened  the  stable  door,  and  looked 
into  a  blank,  black  space,  in  which  he  could  discern  noth- 
ing. He  thought  he  had  better  retreat  while  he  could  do 
so  safely ;  but,  as  he  still  stood  witli  his  hand  upon  the 
rusty  latch,  he  heard  a  faint,  small  voice  through  the 
nicks  of  the  unceiled  boarding  above  his  head. 

"  Our  Father,"  said  the  little  voice,  "  please  to  send 
somebody  to  me,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake.     Amen." 

"I'm  here,  Jess,"  cried  Daniel,  with  a  sudden  bound 
of  his  heart,  such  as  he  had  not  felt  for  years,  and  which 
almost  took  away  his  breath  as  he  peered  into  the  dark- 
ness, until  at  last  he  discerned  dimly  the  rickety  ladder 
which  led  up  into  the  loft. 


40  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRATER. 

Very  cautiously,  but  witli  an  eagerness  which  surprised 
himself,  he  climbed  up  the  creaking  rounds  of  the  ladder 
and  entered  the  dismal  room,  where  the  child  was  lying 
in  desolate  darkness.  Fortunately,  he  had  put  his  box 
of  matches  into  his  pocket,  and  the  end  of  a  wax  candle 
with  which  he  kindled  the  lamps,  and  in  another  minute 
a  gleam  of  light  shone  upon  Jessica's  white  features. 
She  Avas  stretched  upon  a  scanty  litter  of  straw  under 
the  slanting  roof  where  the  tiles  had  not  fallen  off,  with 
her  poor  rags  for  her  only  covering  ;  but  as  her  eyes 
looked  up  into  Daniel's  face  bending  over  her,  a  bright 
smile  of  joy  sparkled  in  them. 

"  Oh,"  she  cried  gladly,  but  in  a  feeble  voice,  "  it's 
Mr.  Dan'el !  Has  God  told  you  to  come  here,  Mr. 
Dan'el  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Daniel,  kneeling  beside  her,  taking  her 
wasted  hand  in  his,  and  parting  the  matted  hair  upon 
her  damp  forehead. 

"  What  did  He  say  to  you,  Mr.  Dan'el  ? "  said 
Jessica. 

"He  told  me  I  was  a  great  sinner,"  replied  Daniel. 
"  He  told  me  I  loved  a  little  bit  of  dirty  money  better 
than  a  poor,  friendless,  helpless  child,  whom  He  had  sent 
to  me  to  see  if  I  would  do  her  a  little  good  for  His  sake. 
He  looked  at  me,  or  the  minister  did,  through  and 
through,  and  He  said,  '  Thou  fool !  this  night  thy  soul 
shall  be  required  of  thee  :  then  whose  shall  those  things 
be  which  thou  hast  provided  ?  '  And  I  could  answer 
Him  nothing,  Jess.  He  was  come  to  a  reckoning  with 
toe,  and  I  could  not  say  a  word  to  Him." 

"  Aren't  you  a  good  man,  Mr.  Dan'el  ?  "  whispered 
Jessica. 

"No;  T'm  a  wicked  sinner,"  he  cried,  while  the  tears 
rolled  down  his  solemn  face.     "I've   been  constant  at 


JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRATER  ANSWERED.  41 

God's  house,  but  only  to  get  money ;  I've  been  steady 
and  industrious,  but  only  to  get  money  ;  and  now  God 
looks  at  me,  and  He  says,  '  Thou  fool ! '  0  Jess,  Jess ! 
you're  more  fit  for  heaven  than  I  ever  was  in  my  life." 

"  Why  don't  you  ask  Him  to  make  you  good  for  Jesus 
Christ's  sake  ?  "  asked  the  child. 

"  I  can't,"  he  said.  "  I've  been  kneeling  down  Sunday 
after  Sunday  when  the  minister's  been  praying,  but  all 
the  time  I  Avas  thinking  how  rich  some  of  the  carriage 
people  were.  I've  been  loving  money  and  worshipping 
inoney  all  along,  and  I've  nearly  let  you  die  rather  than 
nui  the  risk  of  losing  part  of  my  earnings.  I'm  a  very 
sinful  man." 

"  But  you  know  what  the  minister  often  sa3'S,"  mur- 
mured Jessica.  "  '  Herein  is  love,  not  that  we  loved  God, 
but  that  He  loved  us,  and  sent  His  Son  to  be  the  propi- 
tiation for  our  sins.' " 

''I've  heard  it  so  often  that  I  don't  feel  it,"  said  Daniel. 
"  I  used  to  like  to  hear  the  minister  say  it,  but  now  it 
goes  in  at  one  ear  and  out  at  the  other.  My  heart  is  very 
hard,  Jessica." 

By  the  feeble  glimmer  of  the  candle  Daniel  saw  Jes- 
sica's wistful  eyes  fixed  upon  him  with  a  sad  and  loving 
glance  ;  and  then  she  lifted  up  her  weak  hand  to  her  face, 
and  laid  it  over  her  closed  eyelids,  and  her  feverish  lips 
moved  slowly. 

"  God,"  she  said,  "  please  to  make  Mr.  Dan'el's  heart 
soft,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake.     Amen." 

She  did  not  speak  again,  nor  Daniel,  for  some  time. 
He  took  off  his  Sunday  coat  and  laid  it  over  the  tiny, 
shivering  frame,  which  was  shaking  with  cold  even  in 
the  summer  evening ;  and  as  he  did  so  he  remembered 
the  words  which  the  Lord  says  He  will  pronounce  at  the 
last  day  of  reckoning,  "Forasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it 


42  JESSICA'S   FIRST  PRAYER. 

unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  My  brethren,  ye  have  done 
it  unto  Me."  Daniel  Stanclring  felt  his  heart  turning 
with  love  to  the  Saviour,  and  he  bowed  his  head  upon 
his  hands,  and  cried  in  the  depths  of  his  contrite  spirit, 
"  God,  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner ! " 


THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH.  43 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE   SHADOW    OF   DEATH. 

There  was  no  coffee-stall  opened  under  the  railway 
arch  the  following  morning,  and  Daniel's  regular  custom- 
ers stood  amazed  as  they  drew  near  the  empty  corner, 
where  they  were  accustomed  to  get  tlieir  early  breakfast. 
It  would  have  astonished  them  still  more  if  they  could 
have  seen  how  he  was  occupied  in  the  miserable  loft. 
He  had  intrusted  a  friendly  woman  out  of  the  court  to 
buy  food  and  fuel,  and  all  night  long  he  had  watched 
beside  Jessica,  who  was  light-headed  and  delirious,  but 
in  the  wanderings  of  her  thoughts  and  words  often  spoke 
of  God,  and  prayed  for  her  Mr.  Daniel.  The  neighbor 
informed  him  that  the  child's  mother  had  gone  off  some 
days  before,  fearing  that  she  was  ill  of  some  infectious 
fever,  and  that  she,  alone,  had  taken  a  little  care  of  her 
from  time  to  time.  As  soon  as  the  morning  came  he 
sent  for  a  doctor,  and,  after  receiving  permission  from 
him,  he  wrapped  the  poor  deserted  Jessica  in  his  coat, 
and,  bearing  her  tenderly  in  his  arms  down  the  ladder, 
he  carried  her  to  a  cab,  which  the  neighbor  brought  to 
the  entrance  of  the  court.  It  was  to  no  other  than  his 
own  solitary  home  that  he  had  resolved  to  take  her ;  and 
when  the  mistress  of  the  lodgings  stood  at  her  door, 
with  her  arms  akimbo,  to  forbid  the  admission  of  the 
wretched  and  neglected  child,  her  tongue  was  silenced 
by  the  gleam  of  a  half-sovereign,  which  Daniel  slipped 
into  the  palm  of  her  hard  hand. 


44  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRATER. 

By  that  aftei-nooii's  post  the  minister  received  the  fol- 
lowing letter : — 

Eevekexd  Sir,  —  If  you  will  condescend  to  enter  under  my 
linnible  roof,  you  will  have  the  pleasiu-e  of  seeing  little  Jessica, 
who  is  at  the  poiut  of  death,  unless  God  in  His  mercy  restores 
her.  Hoping  you  Avill  excuse  this  liberty,  as  1  cannot  leave  the 
child,  I  remain,  with  duty. 

Your  respectful  servant, 

D.  Standeing. 
P.S.  —  Jessica  desires  her  best  love  and  duty  to  Miss  Jane 
and  Winny. 

The  minister  laid  aside  the  book  he  was  reading,  and 
without  any  delay  started  off  for  his  chapel-keeper's 
dwelling.  There  was  Jessica  lying  restfully  upon  Dan- 
iel's bed,  but  the  pinched  features  were  deadly  pale,  and 
the  sunken  eyes  shone  with  a  waning  light.  She  was  too 
feeble  to  turn  her  head  when  the  door  opened,  and  he 
paused  for  a  minute,  looking  at  her  and  at  Daniel,  who, 
seated  at  the  head  of  the  bed,  was  turning  over  the  papers 
in  his  desk,  and  reckoning  up  once  more  the  savings  of 
his  lifetime.  But  when  the  minister  advanced  into  the 
middle  of  the  room,  Jessica's  white  cheeks  flushed  into 
a  deep  red. 

"  0  minister  ! "  she  cried,  "  God  has  given  me  every- 
thing I  wanted  except  paying  Mr.  Dan'el  for  the  coffee  he 
used  to  give  me." 

"  Ah,  but  God  has  paid  me  over  and  over  again,"  said 
Daniel,  rising  to  receive  the  minister.  "  He's  given  me 
my  own  soul  in  exchange  for  it.  Let  me  make  bold  to 
S}>eak  to  you  this  once,  sir.  You're  a  very  learned  man, 
and  a  great  preacher,  and  many  people  flock  to  hear  you 
till  I'm  hard  put  to  it  to  find  seats  for  them  at  times ;  but 
all  tlve  Avhile,  hearkening  to  you  every  blessed  Sabbath, 


THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH.  45 

I  was  losing  my  soul,  aiul  you  never  once  said  to  me, 
though  you  saw  me  scores  and  scores  of  times,  'Standring, 
are  you  a  saved  man  ?  ' " 

"  Standring,"  said  the  minister,  in  a  tone  of  great  dis- 
tress and  regret,  "  I  always  took  it  for  granted  that  you 
were  a  Christian." 

"  Ah,"  continued  Daniel  thoughtfully,  "  but  God 
wanted  somebody  to  ask  me  that  question,  and  He  did 
not  find  anybody  in  the  congregation,  so  He  sent  this 
poor  little  lass  to  me.  Well,  I  don't  mind  telling  now, 
even  if  I  lose  the  place ;  but  for  a  long  time,  nigh  upon 
ten  years,  I've  kept  a  coffee-stall  on  week-days  in  the 
city,  and  cleared,  one  week  with  another,  about  ten  shil- 
lings ;  but  I  was  afraid  the  chapel-wardens  wouldn't 
approve  of  the  coffee-business,  as  low,  so  I  kept  it  a  close 
secret,  and  always  shut  up  early  of  a  morning.  It's  me 
that  sold  Jessica  her  cup  of  coffee,  which  you  paid  for, 
sir." 

"  There's  no  harm  in  it,  my  good  fellow,"  said  the 
minister  kindly  ;  "  you  need  make  no  secret  of  it." 

''  Well,"  resumed  Daniel,  "  the  questions  this  poor 
little  creature  has  asked  me  have  gone  quicker  and 
deeper  down  to  my  conscience  than  all  your  sermons,  if 
I  may  make  so  free  as  to  say  it.  She's  come  often  and 
often  of  a  morning,  and  looked  into  my  face  with  those 
dear  eyes  of  hers,  and  said, '  Don't  you  love  Jesus  Christ, 
Mr.  Dan'el  ? '  •  Doesn't  it  make  you  very  glad  that  God 
is  your  Father,  Mr.  Dan'el  ?  '  '  Are  we  getting  nearer 
heaven  every  day,  Mr.  Dan'el  ?  '  And  one  day,  says  she, 
'Are  you  going  to  give  all  your  money  to  God,  ^Ir, 
Dan'el  ? '  Ah,  that  question  made  me  think  indeed, 
and  it's  never  been  answered  till  this  day.  While  I've 
been  sitting  beside  the  bed  here,  I've  counted  up  all  my 
savings,  —  £397  17s.  it  is,  —  and  I've  said,  '  Lord  it's  all 


46  JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRAYER. 

Thine ;  and  I'd  give  every  penny  of  it  rather  than  lose 
the  chikl,  if  it  be  Thy  blessed  will  to  spare  her  life.' " 

Daniel's  voice  quavered  at  the  last  words,  and  his  face 
sank  upon  the  pillow  where  Jessica's  feeble  and  motion- 
less head  lay.  There  was  a  very  sweet,  yet  surprised, 
smile  upon  her  face,  and  she  lifted  her  wasted  fingers  to 
rest  upon  the  bowed  head  beside  her,  while  she  shut  her 
eyes  and  shaded  them  with  the  other  weak  hand. 

"  Our  Father,"  she  said,  in  a  faint  whisper,  which  still 
reached  the  ears  of  the  minister  and  the  beadle,  "  I  asked 
you  to  let  me  come  home  to  heaven ;  but  if  Mr.  Dan'el 
wants  me,  please  to  let  me  stay  a  little  longer,  for  Jesus 
Christ's  sake.     Amen." 

For  some  minutes  after  Jessica's  prayer  there  was 
a  deep  and  unbroken  silence  in  the  room,  Daniel  still 
hiding  his  face  upon  the  pillow,  and  the  minister  stand- 
ing beside  them  with  bowed  head  and  closed  eyes,  as  if 
lie  also  were  praying.  When  he  looked  up  again  at  the 
forsaken  and  desolate  child,  he  saw  that  her  feeble  hand 
had  fallen  from  her  face,  Avhich  looked  full  of  rest  and 
peace,  while  her  breath  came  faintly,  but  regularly, 
through  her  parted  lips.  He  took  her  little  hand  into 
his  own  with  a  i^ang  of  fear  and  grief ;  but,  instead  of  the 
mortal  chillness  of  death,  he  felt  the  pleasant  warmth  and 
moisture  of  life.  He  touched  Daniel's  shoulder,  and,  as 
he  lifted  up  his  head  in  sudden  alarm,  he  whispered  to 
him,  "  The  child  is  not  dead,  but  is  only  asleep." 

Before  Jessica  was  fully  recovered,  Daniel  rented  a 
little  house  for  himself  and  his  adopted  daughter  to  dwell 
in.  He  made  many  inquiries  after  her  mother,  but  she 
never  appeared  again  in  her  old  haunts,  and  he  was  well 
pleased  that  there  was  nobody  to  interfere  with  his 
charge  of  Jessica.  When  Jessica  grew  strong  enough 
many  a  cheerful  walk  had  they  together  in  the  early 


THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH.  47 

mornings,  as  they  wended  their  way  to  the  railway 
bridge,  where  the  little  girl  took  her  place  behind  the 
stall  and  soon  learned  to  serve  the  daily  customers ;  and 
many  a  happy  day  was  spent  in  helping  to  sweep  and 
dust  the  chapel,  into  which  she  had  crept  so  secretly  at 
first,  her  great  delight  being  to  attend  to  the  pulpit  and 
the  vestry,  and  the  pew  where  the  minister's  children 
sat,  Avhile  Daniel  and  the  woman  he  employed  cleaned 
the  rest  of  the  building.  Many  a  Sunday  also  the  min- 
ister in  his  pulpit,  and  his  little  daughters  in  their  pew, 
and  Daniel  treading  softly  about  the  aisles,  as  their 
glance  fell  upon  Jessica's  eager,  earnest,  happy  face, 
thought  of  the  first  time  they  saw  her  sitting  amongst 
the  congregation,  and  of  Jessica's  first  prayer. 


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